Mac OS 8 and 9 compatibility with Macintosh computers

Learn which versions of Mac OS 8 and Mac OS 9 will run on which Macintosh computers.

This article has been archived and is no longer updated by Apple.

Macintosh Model

Mac OS Version

8.0

8.1

8.5

8.6

9.0

9.1

9.2.1

9.2.2

Centris / Quadra 6xx

√

√

Quadra 7xx, 8xx, 9xx

√

√

Macintosh LC 475 (2)

√

√

Macintosh LC 575 (2)

√

√

Macintosh LC 580

√

√

Power Macintosh 6100 (2)

√

√

√

√

√

(4)

Power Macintosh 7100

√

√

√

√

√

(4)

Power Macintosh 8100

√

√

√

√

√

(4)

PowerBook 190

√

√

PowerBook 520

√

√

PowerBook 540

√

√

PowerBook 2300

√

√

√

√

√

√

PowerBook 5300

√

√

√

√

√

√

PowerBook 1400

√

√

√

√

√

(6)

PowerBook 3400

√

√

√

√

√

(5)

Power Macintosh 5200 (2)

√

√

√

√

√

√

Power Macintosh 5300 (2)

√

√

√

√

√

√

Power Macintosh 5400 (2)

√

√

√

√

√

√

Power Macintosh 5500 (2)

√

√

√

√

√

√

Power Macintosh 4400

√

√

√

√

√

√

Power Macintosh 6200 (2)

√

√

√

√

√

√

Power Macintosh 6300 (2)

√

√

√

√

√

√

Power Macintosh 6400 (2)

√

√

√

√

√

√

Power Macintosh 6500 (2)

√

√

√

√

√

√

Power Macintosh 7200

√

√

√

√

√

√

Power Macintosh 7300

√

√

√

√

√

√

Power Macintosh 7500

√

√

√

√

√

√

Power Macintosh 8500

√

√

√

√

√

√

Power Macintosh 7600

√

√

√

√

√

√

Power Macintosh 8600

√

√

√

√

√

√

Power Macintosh 9600

√

√

√

√

√

√

Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh

√

√

√

√

√

√

Macintosh Model

Mac OS Version

8.0

8.1

8.5

8.6

9.0

9.1

9.2.1

9.2.2

Power Macintosh G3 All-In-One

√

√

√

√

√

√

√

√

Power Macintosh G3

√

√

√

√

√

√

√

√

Power Macintosh G3 (Blue and White)

(3)

√

√

√

√

√

iMac

(3)

√

√

√

√

√

√

iMac (266 MHz, 333 MHz)

√

√

√

√

√

√

iMac (Slot Loading) (1)

(3)

√

√

√

√

iMac (Summer 2000) (7)

(3)

√

√

√

iMac (Early 2001)

(3)

√

√

iMac (Summer 2001) (7)

(3)

√

√

iMac (Flat Panel)

√

iMac (Flat Panel)
(Introduced 2003-02)

(9)

iMac (17-inch 1 GHz)

(9)

iMac (USB 2.0)

(9)

eMac

√

eMac (ATI Graphics) - CD-ROM and Combo Drive

(3)

eMac (ATI Graphics) - SuperDrive

(9)

Power Mac G4 (PCI Graphics) (1)

(3)

√

√

√

√

Power Mac G4 (AGP Graphics) (1)

(3)

√

√

√

√

Power Mac G4 (Gigabit Ethernet)

(3)

√

√

√

Power Mac G4 Cube

(3)

√

√

√

Power Mac G4 (Digital Audio)

(3)

√

√

Power Mac G4 (QuickSilver)

(8)

(8)

Power Mac G4 (QuickSilver 2002)

(3)

Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors)

(3)

Power Mac G4 (FW 800)

(9)

Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors 2003)

(3)

Power Mac G5

(9)

Power Mac G5 (June 2004) and later

(10)

Mac mini

(10)

Macintosh Model

Mac OS Version

8.0

8.1

8.5

8.6

9.0

9.1

9.2.1

9.2.2

PowerBook G3

√

√

√

√

√

PowerBook G3 Series

√

√

√

√

√

√

√

PowerBook (FireWire)

(3)

√

√

√

PowerBook G4

(3)

√

√

PowerBook G4 (Gigabit Ethernet)

(3)

√

PowerBook G4 (DVI)

(3)

√

√

PowerBook G4 (1GHz/867MHz)

(3)

PowerBook G4 (12-inch)

(9)

PowerBook G4 (17-inch)

(9)

PowerBook G4 (12-inch DVI)

(9)

PowerBook G4 (12-inch 1.33GHz)

(9)

PowerBook G4 (15-inch FW 800)

(9)

PowerBook G4 (15-inch 1.5/1.33GHz)

(9)

PowerBook G4 (17-inch 1.33GHz)

(9)

PowerBook G4 (17-inch 1.5GHz)

(9)

iBook (1)

(3)

√

√

√

√

iBook (FireWire)

(3)

√

√

√

iBook (Dual USB)

(3)

√

√

iBook (Late 2001)

(3)

√

√

iBook (14.1 LCD)

√

iBook (16 VRAM)

√

iBook (Opaque 16 VRAM)

√

iBook (32 VRAM)

√

iBook (14.1 LCD 32 VRAM)

√

iBook (Early 2003)

(3)

iBook G4

(9)

iBook G4 (14-inch)

(9)

iBook G4 (Early 2004)

(9)

Notes:

Mac OS 8.6 is supported on this model only if it was included at the time of purchase.

Performa equivalent models are also included. This would include all 5xxx, 6xxx (including 6100), 475 and 575 models.

These computers are supported by the version of Mac OS included with the computer when it was purchased; retail copies of Mac OS with the same (or earlier) version number may not include the system software components necessary to start up these models. These computers are also supported by all subsequent versions of Mac OS.

If you are installing Mac OS 9.1 on a PowerBook 3400 running Mac OS 9.04, you must perform the installation without updating your hard disk drivers or your computer may stop responding during installation. To prevent the Installer from updating your hard disk drivers, click Options in the Install Software panel of the Mac OS 9.1 Installer and deselect the option to update your hard disk drivers.

Password Security is not supported on PowerBook 1400s with Mac OS 9.1. If you have Password Security installed on a PowerBook 1400, you should turn off password protection before installing Mac OS 9.1.

The parenthetical product descriptions (Summer 2000) and (Summer 2001) refer to the summer of the Northern Hemisphere.

This computer originally shipped with Mac OS 9.2. The Mac OS 9.2.1 update is fully supported.